Despite new online sales taxes that went into effect this year in California and other states, early Cybermonday sales jumped a whopping 24.1 percent over last year across the country as more customers made purchases over their laptops, tablets and smartphones, according to preliminary data released this morning.

“Consumers today are sitting at their desks at work with their credit cards out and clicking away and buying … or curling up on the couch and doing a little couch commerce,” said Jay Henderson, strategy director of IBM Smarter Commerce, which is tracking online sales.

Despite new online taxes that went into effect Sept. 15 in California and vary in rate by county, Cybermonday sales are up this year because of heavy marketing and deals by online merchants, consumer confidence in the economy and the explosion of hand-held devices and apps, Henderson said

Based on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday online purchases, more online customers (76 percent) are still likely making their purchases on PCs or laptops. But a growing number are using iPads (10 percent), iPhones (8.7 percent) and Androids (5.5 percent), Henderson said. “That mobile experience is continuing to grow,” he said.

Alan Ross, 55 of Pinole, plans to spend $1,200 to $1,700 Christmas shopping online this year for his wife, two kids and other family members and isn’t discouraged by the new 8.75 percent online sales tax he’ll have to pay this year.

Ross is proud that he hasn’t been to a mall in 14 years and told this newspaper that the lack of an online sales tax was “a good ride while it lasted. It was inevitable. I’m surprised it took this long to collect.”

Some 129.2 million shoppers plan to shop online on Cybermonday this year — up from 122.8 million last year, according to a survey conducted for Shop.org by BIGinsight,

The estimate is up from the 122.8 million people who shopped online last year, and 106.9 million in 2010.

Some 85 percent of retailers are offering Cyber Monday promotions, according to Shop.org.

WASHINGTON – Hillary Clinton challenged Congress on Thursday to combat fake and misleading news on social media, using a post-election appearance to tackle an issue that gripped her presidential campaign and culminated with a shooting incident Sunday in Northwest Washington.